Hoisting mechanism for locomotives



OCLZS, 194 L.. D. HOLMES 2,260,623

HOISTING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES L. D. HOLMES HoIsT'ING MECHANISM FOR LocoMoTIvEs oct.y 2s, 1941.

Filed July v22, '194.0 s sheets-snee octzs, 1941. ,D HOLMES 2,260,623

HoIsTING MECHANISM FOR LocoMoTvEs Filed July 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 d'7 me@ Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES oFFlcE g a j 2,260,623 I Y Hols'rING MECHANISM Foa LoCoMoTlvEs Louis'D. Holmes, Harvey, Ill., assignor'toWhiting Corporation, Illinois Harvey, Ill., a corporation of Applimtion .iuly 22', 1940, seriaiNo. 346,764

13 claims. (o1. 10iazi The invention relates to hoisting mechanism of vthe type adapted for raising locomotives for making repairs. 'i

Heretofore it has been the practice to use a pair yof stationary jacks and a pair of jacks mov- .v

able relatively to the stationary jacks, eachI pair being adapted to lift a beam extended -under the locomotive `frame and` fitting into transverse recesses in the shop floor. One pair of jacks was movable longitudinally'ofthe locomotive track tojprovide different spacings v,between the lifting beams for engaging locomotives of different lengths or different portions of basesl orcarriages of the jacks are mounted to travel on tracks onthe shop floor andat the sidesl .of the locomotive track, the .lifting elements, such -as screws, are suspended-:from Ithe upperends of the fcolumns onthejacks, and the bases ofthe jacks .are formed with openings to permitu the ends of thelifting beams to pass vertically therethroughfin-order to make it possible to-.li-ft the beams into. and .out of the transverse recesses, when lifting or 'raising timeI locomotive. 1 Another object of Vthe invention is-Yto provide hoisting mechanism comprising a series of four jacks, yeach Vwith power-operated ldriving 'mechanism including motors, atthe upper. ends of the columnsand gearing between the `jacks and pits for said gearing are dispensedwith.

Another object of theinvention is to provide jacks ofr this type' which are sturdy in construction and in which the motors and'gearing.. for operating the lifting screws are disposed-at the top -of the column so that the liftingrscrews will be suspended from-above and subjectedvtotension by lthe'loads.

j- Another object of the invention is to provide lhoisitng mechanism `for a lifting beam which comprises jacks at the sides of the locomotive track which are built up of beams and plates for -The invention consists -in lthe V"several novel 55 features which are hereinafter set forthfand are more particularly dened byclaims at the conclusion hereof; 1

vIn the drawingsLFig. 1 is a plan of hoisting mechanism exemplifying the invention.. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the structure forming the upper end of the vertical columns of the rjacks forsupporting alifting screw. Fig. 3 is a sec#- tionof-themechanism for the operation of one of the lifting screws and its housing taken on line 3-3 of Fig. V1X.' Fig. 4- isa transverse section taken on line 4-'4 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away forillustrative purposes. Fig. 5 is a side elevation Aof one of the lifting jacks with -a lifting beamjconnected thereto, the transverse pit being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective of the base structure of one of the jacks and one end of the lifting beam suspended from thellifting screw. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a perspective ofthe bottom plate of the carriage or base offa jack. Fig. 9 isa perspective of an end portionof ,one of thelifting beams.

. The. invention .is exemplified in connection [witha shop VKiioorja;v a pair ofrails b on the floor which =fo`r.m" atrack for a locomotive; a pair of rails` yc at, -spaceclfrom eachsile of, and kextending parallel to the locomotivetrack and forming narrow gauge tracksy lfor Lthe lifting' jacks; a seriesfofftransverse vrecesses d in the `floor a under and intersecting the locomotive track and the inner ypair ofralsl c ;vone pair of transversely aligned lifting jacks for raising and lowering a lifting beam e for one end of the locomotiveand another pair of ,transversely aligned lifting jacks for raising' and lowering the.' other 'end of the locomotive Land lifting beams e fitting in recesses Eachpair of jacks is adapted to ysimultaneouslyliftboth ends of a lifting beam' e. In practice, both pairs of jacks are simultaneously raised or A lowered vin handling a locomotive. vThese orc arriage which is provided with four Wheelsinterrupted inner side, at the inner side of the base. The abutting faces of beams I1 and I8 and the top face of plate I6 are welded together. The ends of beams I1, I8 project beyond the ends of plate I6 to carry the axles I9 for the wheels I5 endwise of plate I6. Brace-plates 20 are welded to the plate I6 and the beams I1 and I8 to connect the beams and plate against l-ateral deection of the beams by the loads. The plate I6 is reinforced by a bar 2| welded to the bottom face, and at the outer side, of plate I6 and bars 22 are similarly welded to the plate at its inner side. ing 23 which extends vertically therethrough and outwardly from its inner side to the inner side of beam I1. The purpose of this construction is to provide a rigid base for ythe jack which is provided with the opening 23 through which a lifting-beam may be raised and lowered, as hereinafter described. Cross-bars 24 are welded to top anges of beam I1 and beams I8, respectively. The ends of the axles I9 are journaled in blocks I9a which are slidable in pedestals 25. Each pedestal is formed of vertical plates 26 and a top plate 21, which are welded to the beams I1 and I8 and to the bars 24. Springs 28 are interposed between the bearing-blocks and plates 29. Set vscrews 30 are threaded through the top plate of the pedestals to engage plates 29 for adjusting the tension of the springs. 'Ihe reinforcing bars 2|, 22 are vertically aligned with, and spaced slightly above, thevheads of the rails c, so that when the jacks are'not supporting a locomotive, springs 28 will support the base for travel on the wheels I5. When, however, the jacks carry a heavy load, the springs 28 will yield sufficiently to permit the bars 2|, 22 to engage the rails c and thereby transmit the weight of the load directly from the base to said rails. A pair of vertical I-beams 3| t between, and are welded to the inner faces of, side-beams I1, I8 and their lower ends abut against, and are welded to, the top face of bottom plate I6. Beams 3| are spaced apart correspondingly to the width of opening 23. Opening 23 is located at the longitudinal center of the base and between upright beams 3|. The upper ends of beams 3| are rigidly connected by channel-beams 33 (Fig. 2), the inner faces of the channel-beams being welded to the outer faces of beams 3|. Between beams 3| the inner faces of beams 33 are also cross-connected by channelbeams 34, the ends of which are welded to the inner faces of beams 33. A lifting screw 32 extends vertically between the beams 3| and is suspended from above, as hereinafter described, at the longitudinal and transverse center of the base, so that the load will be carried by the basestructure without tendency to tilt the column and base. The mechanisml for rotating the screw 32 to raise and lower a lifting-beam is mounted at the upper end of the column. A gear-housing 35 formed of plate metal sections welded together, is iixedly secured on the top of the column, Housing 35 comprises a central bottom member 36 which is secured on the top of the beams 34; a depending rim 31 welded to the abutting portions of the top faces of beams 33; and a cover 39 which is removably secured to the body of the housing. The mechanism for rotating the screw (Fig. 3) comprises an electric motor 38 which is mounted on, and at one side of, the cover 39 of the gear-housing; a pinion 39 fixed to the depending shaft of motor 38 and located` in the body of the housing; a gear 43 located in the housing and meshing with pinion Plate I6 is provided with an open 39; and a nut 40 keyed to the gear 43 and rotatable therewith. Nut 40 is provided with a flange 4| which is supported by a thrust-bearing 4|P- between said ange and the base member 36 of the housing. The upper end of the nut 40 extends through, and is journaled in, cover-plate 39. The lifting screw 32 is threaded to, and suspended from, nut 40. A stationary tube secured to the top` of cover 39 encloses the upper end of screw 36. When the motor 38 is operated, pinion 45 will drive gear 43 and rotate nut 40 which is held against axial movement, and screw 32 which is also held against rotation at its lower end, as hereinafter described, will be shifted longitudinally according to the direction of rotation of gear 43. Motor 38 is of the reversible type, so that it may be driven and operated in one direction to rotate nut 40 to raise the screw and in the opposite direction to lower the screw. The lower end of screw 32 is provided with an eye 32 for connection to a lifting-beam by a pin 5|, as hereinafter described. In this construction the screw is suspended from the nut at the top of thecolumn so that the loads on the screw will subject the screw to tension. Each jack is provided with an electric motor 38 and operating gearing for its nut 40 and screw 36 so that no driving connections between the screws are necessary. 4

Each lifting-beam is formed of apair of I-beams 48 which are spaced apart, and top and bottom plates 49 welded to the top and bottom faces of the flanges of beams 48 and spanning the spaces between them. Reinforcing members 50 are welded to the inner faces of the webs of the I- beams 48. The webs of beams 48 and reinforcing members 50 are provided with slots 50a for receiving a coupling pin 5I for connecting the screws 32 of a transverse pair of the jacks to the ends of the lifting-beam. Each lifting-beam d fits into any of the transverse recesses d in the floor. The outer ends of each beam d are adapted to pass through the openings 23 in plates I6 of the jacks and between the upright beams 3| of the supporting columns so theycan be raised to the upper portion of the columns by the screws and their operating mechanisms. Each of the inner rails c is interrupted at the recesses d to permit the lifting-beam to be raised and lowered below the level of the base-structure of the jacks. Rail sections 52 bridge the gaps in rails c through which the beam passes vertically,` and are welded to the top plate 49 of the lifting-beam to close the gaps in the inner rails c over a recess d when a lifting-beam e is located in said recess. The lifting-beam is also provided with rail sections 53 which bridge the gaps in the rails b at the recess d into which the beam e is lowered. Normally, when the lifting-beam e is lowered in a recess d, its bottom plate 49 is supported on rail sections 54 which may be embedded in the concrete forming the bottom of the recesses d, so thatthe load of the locomotive running on the track will be transmitted directly through the lifting-beam to rail sections 54. The rails a for the truck tracks are preferably supported at the oor level or a level corresponding with the rails b. This makes it possible to avoid the use of longitudinal pits for the bases or carriages of the jacks.

In practice, it is desirable to move at least one and, in some instances, two pairs of jacks to or from each other for hoisting locomotives of different lengths or engaging the lifting-beams with locomotives at different points. For this purpose,

through, through which the lower end of the vertical lifting element is adapted `to pass, a lifting beam detachably connected to the lowerends of the lifting elements and having its ends movable vertically through the openingy and below the wheels on the frame, and mechanism mounted at the upper end of the column for operating said elements to raise or lower the lifting beam.

4. In locomotive hoisting mechanism, the combinationof a pair of four-wheeled trucks, a pair of lifting-jacks on the trucks, each' comprising an upstanding column xed on the truck, and a lifting mechanism including' an element suspended from the upper end of the column and centrally of the truck, the trucks being provided with openings extending vertically t-hrough their confronting sides, and a lifting-beamhaving its ends connected to said elements and simultaneously movable vertically through said openings to a position below the truck by said elements.

5. In locomotive hoisting mechanism, the combination of a pair of four-wheeled trucks, lifting- 4jacks on the trucks, each comprising an upstanding column iixed on the trucks, a lifting mechanism including a screw suspended from the upper `end of the column and centrally of the truck, the trucks being provided with openings extendjacks on the trucks, each comprising columns xed on the trucks, a lifting mechanism including a vertical screw in the column, a nut for the screw mounted in the upper end of the column and centrally of the truck, and an electric motor and gearing for rotating the nut, mounted atthe upper end of the column, the trucks being provided with openings extending vertically through their confronting sides, and a lifting-beam having its ends connected to said elements and simultaneously movable vertically by said elements and through said openings to a position below the truck,

'1.'The combination with a shop oor provided with a pair of rails on the floor forming a track for a locomotive, a pair of truck rails parallel to, and at each side of, the locomotive track and substantially at floor level, the floor being provided with a transverse recess below and intersecting the locomotive track and the inner rails of the truck tracks, a pair of four-wheeled` trucks adapted to travel on the truck tracks, each comi prising a base having a vertical opening extending vertically through its inner side, an upstanding column on the base, and a lifting mechanism including a vertically movable element, and a lifting-beam movable vertically into and out of the recess and having its ends movable vertically through said openings in the bases and connected to said elements for vertical movement through saidv openings.

8. TheA combination with a shop floor provided with a pair f rails on the floor forming a track for a locomotive, Va pair of truck rails parallel to, and at each side of,` the locomotive track and substantially at oor level, the oor being provided with a transverse recess below and intersecting the locomotive track and the inner rails of the truck tracks, a pair of four-wheeled trucks adapted to travel on the truck tracks, each comprising a base having a vertical opening extend- `ing vertically through its inner side, an 'upstanding column on the base and a lifting mechanism including a verticallylmovable element, a lifting beam movable vertically into and out of the recess and having its ends movablel vertically through said openings in the bases and connected to said elements for vertical movement through saidopenings, and rail sections on thefbeam extending across the` recess at the inner rails of the truck tracks. y l

9. The combination with a shop floor provided with a pair of rails on the floor forming a track for a locomotive, a pair of truck rails parallel to, and at each side of, the locomotive track and substantially at floor level, the :door being provided with av transverse recess below andintersecting the locomotive track and the inner rails of the truck tracks, a pair of four-wheeled trucks adapted to travel on the truck tracks, each comprising a base having a vertical opening extending vertically through its inner side, an upstanding column on the base and a lifting mechanism including a vertically movable suspension element, 'and a lifting-beam movable vertically into and out 'of the recess and having its ends movable vertically through 'said openings and connected to said elements for vertical movement through said openings, and rail-sections on the beam extending across the recess at the inner rails of the truck tracks and at the rails of the locomotive track.

10. The combination with a shop floor provided with a pair of rails onthe floor forming a track for a locomotive, a pair of truck rails parallel to, and at each side of, the locomotive track and on the iloor, the floor being provided with a tr-ansverse recess below and intersecting the locomotive track and the inner rails of the truck tracks, a pair of four-wheeled trucks adapted to travel on the truck tracks, each comprising a base having a vertical opening extending vertically through its inner side, an upstanding column on the base and a lifting mechanism including a vertically movable screw supported in suspension at the upper end of the column and a motor mounted at the upper end of the column for shifting the screw, and a lifting-beam movable vertically into and out of the recess and having its ends movable vertically through the openings in the bases andconnected to said elements for vertical movement through said openings, and rail sections on the beam extending across the recess at the inner rails of the truck tracks and at the rails of the locomotive tracks. f

11. The combination with a shop 'floor provided with a pair of rails on the floor forming a track vfor a locomotive, a pair of truck rails parallel to, and at each side of, the locomotive track and substantially at floor level, the floor being provided with a plurality of transversev recesses below and intersecting the locomotive track and the inner rails of the truck tracks, a pair of fourwheeled trucks adapted to travel on the truck tracks, each comprising a base having a vertical opening extending vertically through its inner side and upstanding column on the base, a lifting mechanism including a vertically movable element, and a lifting-beam movable vertically into either of the recesses and through said openings and having its ends detachably connected to said elements for vertical movement through said openings.

12. In a lifting jack for locomotives, the combination of a base provided with wheels and comprising an underlying plate, side beams to which the underlying plate is xedly secured, a pair of upright beams forming a column and having their lower ends extended to the plate and fixed between the side beams, a vertically movable lifting screw disposed between the beams, gearing mounted on top of the column for raising o=r lowering the screw, and a lifting beam connected to the lower end of the screw and having one of tts ends extending between the upright beams, the underlying plate and one of the side beams of the frame having an opening extending vertically therethrough through which the ends of the lifting beam can pass to a point below the frame.

13. In a lifting-jack for locomotives, the combination of a portable base formed of beams spaced apart transversely and a plate underlying and secured to said beams, a pair of upright beams spaced apart and fitting between the beams of the base structure and on top of the plate and forming a vertical column, the plate being formed with an opening at one side thereof and between the upright beams, a rotatable nut mounted at the top of the column, a lifting screw passing through the nut, supported in suspension therefrom and disposed between the upright beams, an electric motor, gearing between the motor and the nut, the lower end of the screw being movable through the opening in the underlying plate, and a lifting element connected to the lowerr end of the screw, movable through said opening.

LOUIS D. HOLMES. 

